George O'Leary Named Head Football Coach

Dec. 9, 2001

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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – George O’Leary, head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets since 1994 and the Bobby Dodd national coach of the year in 2000, today was appointed the new head football coach at the University of Notre Dame by director of athletics Kevin White.

White and Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president, introduced O’Leary at a news conference attended by a large gathering of Notre Dame students, faculty, staff members and football ticket-holders in the Joyce Center arena on the Notre Dame campus. O’Leary takes over as the Notre Dame head coach effective immediately.

Head coach at Georgia Tech since taking over on an interim basis late in 1994, O’Leary has revived the fortunes of the Tech football program in his seven full seasons. His team won co-champion honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1998 and he has led Tech teams to a current streak of five consecutive bowl games (best run at Tech since 1951-56 under Bobby Dodd when Tech played in six straight bowl games). From 1998 through this season his teams have posted a 34-14 record (.708). He was named ACC Coach of the Year in both 1998 and 2000 – and saw his Tech teams finish in the top 25 three straight years from ’98 through 2000 (ninth, 21st and 17th in the Associated Press poll).

“During his exceptional 22-year coaching career George O’Leary has been a pivotal figure with conference and national championship teams at both the professional and collegiate levels. He knows what championship football requires and how to coach young men to win at he highest level. His teams are exciting on offense, relentless on defense, and skilled on special teams,” White said in announcing the appointment.

“Just as important to us, George has a genuine passion for Notre Dame and for the qualities that make the University unique beyond athletics-our Catholic character, our high academic standards, our residential student life, and our traditions of community service and student volunteerism. I believe we’ve found a man who is ideally suited to become a part of Notre Dame, to energize our football program and to lead us, as someone once said, ‘onward to victory.'”

“This is an exciting time for me. Notre Dame is the only job I would ever leave Georgia Tech for. It’s the pinnacle of all coaching jobs. In fact, I believe there are two great coaching jobs in all of sports, one being the manager of the New York Yankees and the other being the head football coach at Notre Dame,” said O’Leary.

“While I can’t manage the Yankees, I feel fortunate to be invited to coach the Fighting Irish. This school embodies excellence in every way. My only wish is that my father could be here to see this day come true.”

O’Leary’s 2000 team led the nation in total offense with a Tech record of 509.0 total yards per game. His exceptionally-balanced 1998 team defeated four nationally-ranked opponents while leading the ACC in scoring at more than 35 points a game, in net punting and punt and kickoff returns, and setting an NCAA defensive record with seven fumbles returned for touchdowns. That Tech team defeated Notre Dame 35-28 in the 1999 Gator Bowl.

O’Leary also was the head coach when Georgia Tech met Notre Dame on Sept. 6, 1997, in the first game played in the expanded Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won that contest 17-13 on a late touchdown drive. As defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech from 1987-91 under head coach Bobby Ross, O’Leary directed the defense that led Tech to the United Press International national championship in 1990. That defense ranked in the top 15 nationally in every major statistical category after opening the season by not allowing a touchdown for 19 consecutive quarters.

Among the biggest victories over ranked opponents in his career at Tech have been wins over four rated teams in ’98 (including sixth-ranked Virginia) and fourth-rated Clemson in 2000.

Among the recent standout players he has coached at Tech are quarterback Joe Hamilton (the 1999 Heisman Trophy runnerup) and current quarterback George Godsey, a two-year starter (he ranked sixth nationally in passing in ’00) who is the older brother of current Irish tight end (and former quarterback) Gary Godsey. He coached consensus All-Americans three straight seasons at Tech in center Craig Page in ’98, Hamilton in ’99 and offensive tackle Chris Brown in 2000.

Two of his assistants have graduated to become head coaches – defensive coordinator Randy Edsall to Connecticut in 1998 and offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen to Maryland in 2001.

Following his initial stay at Georgia Tech, O’Leary accompanied Ross to the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers, coaching the defensive line in 1992-93. In both those years his teams ranked second in the NFL in rushing defense, and the 1993 team led the AFC with 51 sacks as the Chargers won their first division title in more than a decade.

O’Leary began his collegiate coaching career as defensive line coach (the last six years under Dick McPherson) at Syracuse University from 1980-86. During that time he coached five future NFL players, including first-round draft pick Tim Green, now a novelist and prominent football commentator.

Green, who also played for O’Leary at Liverpool (N.Y.) High School, has called his former mentor “the perfect football coach. He’s incredibly tough and demanding. He toughens his players, demands sacrifice and perseverance, all the things essential to succeeding in football and life. But he does it in a way that doesn’t leave you bitter or remorseful, but inspired.” Said Ross of his longtime assistant, “George has the complete package: He’s an excellent coach, teacher, and recruiter.”

As a head coach at Liverpool and Central Islip High Schools in New York, O’Leary won more than 82 percent of his games, compiling a 37-8-1 record from 1975-79. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Central Islip, his high school alma mater, on Long Island.

A Central Islip native and the grandson of Irish immigrants, O’Leary earned a master’s degree in education from New York University in 1972 after having received his bachelor’s degree in 1968 from the University of New Hampshire. He played football at New Hampshire, earning three letters as a fullback. He’s currently on the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association.

Born Aug. 17, 1946, O’Leary has been married to the former Sharon Littlefield for 32 years, and they have four children-daughters Chris and Trish and sons Tim and Marty (a senior free safety on the ’01 Tech team).

The George O’Leary Coaching File

What They’re Saying About George O’Leary . . .

Former Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner and Notre Dame athletic director Gene Corrigan:
“I hated for Georgia Tech to lose him, but I’m happy for George because he’s a perfect fit for Notre Dame.”

Former Georgia Tech and San Diego Charger head coach Bobby Ross:
“I worked with George for seven years, so I can tell you that Notre Dame is getting a very, very solid football coach. There is no weakness in his game. He’s demanding, he’s a disciplinarian. He’s an excellent recruiter who can recruit anywhere in the country – and he’s done it in a tough recruiting area with both the ACC and SEC competing for players. He relates extremely well to his players. Georgia Tech can be a challenging place, but he went in there and made them into a national power. He put Georgia Tech in a position to be as recognized nationally as in the days of Bobby Dodd. He’s gotten them into the top 25 and kept them there.”

Ralph Friedgen, former Tech assistant and current Maryland head coach:
“George is an outstanding coach and an outstanding selection. He will do a great job. If Notre Dame really wanted a Fighting Irishman, they got one.”

John DiClemente, former teammate and coaching colleague at Central Islip (N.Y.) High School:
“George’s personality has not changed. He was a tough nut at 11 and he’s a tough nut today. He believes in family values, things that are right and he won’t back down from what he believes in. You know where he’s coming from at all times, and he tells you to your face what he wants and expects it done that way.”

Jack Wilkinson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution sportswriter:
” . . . If George O’Leary has a disarmingly dry sense of humor, he also has a heart beneath the gruff exterior. . . . He likes dogged loyalty . . . . He does not like surprises unless he springs them. And when life disappoints, well, keep the faith, go back to work and make it right again.”

Tim Green, former Syracuse and Atlanta Falcon standout defensive end:
“He has his fingers on the pulse of young athletes – what makes them play, what makes them good. George is one of those unique individuals who can be extraordinarily tough . . . but at the same time foster this sense of devotion among young football players. And also adoration and reverence. That’s how everyone felt about him. In a way, they were afraid. He inspired awe in young kids, but not in a negative way. I’ve been around a lot of coaches, seen coaches respected and liked. But almost all these coaches would be mimicked or imitated in a deprecating manner when some kids got off by themselves. Even when guys in high school and college did their George impressions, there was a reverence about it.”

Peggy O’Leary, his mother:
“Hard work and determination has gotten him where he is. He’s brash. He’ll say things to your face. George doesn’t beat around the bush. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to hear it. But he’ll befriend you. I think you have to know George to love him.”

Homer Rice, former Georgia Tech athletic director on hiring O’Leary:
“I kept remembering him as upbeat, with a little bit of humor and a great football coach. He had a decisive plan to bring our program to national competitiveness.”

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN Magazine:
“O’Leary is passionate about his profession, tough minded and will wear well at South Bend. What you see is what you get with O’Leary, and what ND will get is one of the most organized coaches in the business. Sure, the Irish-Catholic background is a convenient bonus, but he didn’t get the job because he knows the Stations of the Cross. He got it because Notre Dame needs someone who will put the fear of God and George in the Irish players.”

Joe Hamilton, former all-star Georgia Tech quarterback:
“Coach O’Leary is a tough coach. He’s coach that demands a lot and that wants to be perfect. If you’re a player that wants to win, then you can appreciate Coach O’Leary.”

Randy Edsall, former Tech assistant coach and current Connecticut head coach:
“He’s just a good, old-fashioned ball coach. He’s not flashy and might not get the kudos he deserves. He’s done a tremendous job.”

George Godsey, Tech quarterback:
“He’s a man who’s going to be straight up with you. And not tell you what you want to hear. If you go in there and ask him where you stand in the program, he’s going to tell you straight up. He’s a very honest and very hard-working man who demands a lot out of you.”

Dick McPherson, former Syracuse head coach:
“He’s a very exact, disciplined guy and kids just take to him. He’s a football player’s coach. They understand who he is. They know what they have to do each and every day. There were no two ways to do things. There was his way and that’s the way it was done.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

FATHER MALLOY: I really appreciate everybody coming out this afternoon, and I’m very proud to announce our new head football coach.

In our search, we wanted someone who was a consistent winner and somebody who would be a great institutional fit. Yesterday morning in Atlanta, we talked about our academic expectations, about the importance of student life, residentiality and about the richness of our history. On every account, I sensed very quickly a great rapport and a kind of deep?seated desire to join our family here at Notre Dame.

When he had a chance to meet with some of the people I invited to be part of the process, including some of our outstanding former student athletes from the University, he won us all over with his sincerity, with commitment to the task, with his toughness of spirit and with his concern for the student athletes to be trusted to his care.

I’m happy to be able to invite our athletic director Kevin White, who had the extraordinarily difficult and good job to formally introduce Coach O’Leary. But I want you to know that on my behalf, I could not be more excited and I could not be more confident in anyone.

Kevin, please come forward. (Applause).

KEVIN WHITE: Father Malloy, thank you.

It’s great to be here today. This is obviously much more than a press conference, this is really quite a welcoming for Coach O’Leary. I appreciate everyone being here. It’s a great turnout. I’m going try to keep my comments very brief and then introduce our head football coach.

A week ago today when we were beginning the search, I said that it would be a thorough, intense national search and that’s what it has been. We traveled literally to all parts of the country, spoke with dozens of people throughout the football community. We interviewed four candidates, and we offered the job to one. He will appear in just a moment.

Through all of those meetings, there have been three thoughts, as Father Malloy suggested, that we focused on. First and foremost, we were looking for a proven winner. Someone who could come in and restore our program to National Championship caliber.

Second, we wanted a person who would be a great fit, a great fit for Notre Dame, with a real passion for our history, for our tradition, for our commitment to excellence, for our education both on the field and in terms of our high academic standards. And, also a great fit for our mission and all that that means in terms of service, conduct and charity.

And thirdly, we wanted someone who would be a great public representative of Notre Dame, a person who personifies all of the things that make Notre Dame a unique and special place.

Of all of the people we talked to about the job, the man I am about to introduce seemed to me and to those people I consulted with throughout the country, and those I consulted about the search within the Notre Dame family, this gentleman seems to offer without a doubt the best combination of those three articulated qualities.

Both as a head coach and as a top assistant in the NFL, he has demonstrated that he knows what championship football is about, and he knows how to bring players to that level. He is regarded by his peers as one of the greatest football minds in the game. His teams are exciting on offense, relentless on defense and skilled on special teams.

However, there is more to this job than just football coaching, I think we all know that. One has to understand that the heart of Notre Dame is education and the soul is its Catholic character. The next head football coach of Notre Dame has a genuine passion for this place and embraces the qualities that make the University unique beyond athletics, namely, our high academic standards, our distinct residential student life, our strong tradition of community service and student volunteerism, all very important and are paramount within this decision and within my recommendation to Father Malloy.

I believe we have found the man who is ideally suited to become a part of Notre Dame, to energize our football program, and to lead us, as someone once said, “Onward to victory.” I really believe that.

We owe a number of people a great debt of gratitude for their help in the search. First, Father Malloy, who I believe is one of the truly great presidents in higher education. We have really enjoyed a lot of success and support throughout the process — that’s been invaluable.

I want to thank my staff personally. But also, a special advisory committee who assisted me with our final selection. From the board of trustees, our chairman Pat McCartan, chair of the boards’s committee on athletic affairs, Al DeCrane, from the ranks of our faculty administration, provost Nathan Hatch, and professor of law Tex Dutile, the chairman of our faculty board on athletics. I’d also like to thank executive vice president Father Tim Scully, vice president of student affairs Father Mark Poorman, vice?president for public affairs and communication Lou Nanni, and our executive assistant to the president, Matt Cullinan. And probably most of all, I’d like to thank two former Notre Dame All?Americans and team captains who have been invaluable throughout this process, Jim Lynch, class of ’67 and Dave Duerson, class of ’83, and Dave is also a member of the board of trustees.

Now I want to get out of the way, you’d like to hear from our new coach, but first let me introduce the coach behind the coach, Sharon O’Leary. Sharon, would you please stand? (Applause).

With that, I am delighted and excited and honored to present to you the Head Football Coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Coach George O’Leary.

(Applause).

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: Thank you. I do want to recognize the athletic director. I do think he’s a great evaluator of talent. (Laughter.)

Last time I was here was 1997. I brought another football team to the stadium, and I’m glad you acted like you did ?? because you didn’t treat me very well that last time when I was here.

But I’m very happy to be at Notre Dame. I think the two best jobs in America are the Head Football Coach of Notre Dame and the Manager of the New York Yankees. (Applause.)

I have one of those jobs. As I left Georgia Tech today, a place that has been very dear to me, I said coaching at a Georgia Tech is a great place to be, but Notre Dame is a great fit.

I’m happy to be here as your head football coach. Obviously, my job right now is twofold: To graduate your athletes and to win a lot of football games. (Applause).

The word, “Student” to me is very important ??(Chant from crowd: “We love you, George!”)

I hope you feel that way at midseason. (Laughter.) The word “Student” to me is very important. Obviously, that’s why we call them student athletes, and I think there’s no question of the rich tradition at Notre Dame, not just in football, but in everything that you do: Academics, student involvement. I have learned some thing the last couple of days at Notre Dame that have intrigued me.

I do want to thank everybody that came out today. I came to Notre Dame to win games, and a lot of them, and that’s what it’s all about. (Applause).

I was raised in New York City, one of eight children. As I grew up ?? everything was an adventure. But I do think that I understand what takes place at this school. It’s more than football and it’s more than academics, and you don’t know it until you arrive. And I understand clearly the spiritualness of this college that takes place. But more important, I’m here to get you back to where you need to be as far as National Championships. (Applause).

I will be leaving tonight to fly back to Atlanta. I’ll be back here Wednesday, and again, I’m a people person, all right? You see me, you stop me, if I can help you, let me know. But more important, I’m lost right now, so until I find my way around this campus ?? so if you see a white?haired guy moving around not knowing where he’s going, get me in the right direction. I do know where the football fields are, but I don’t know where your academic facilities are.

Again, I’m very proud to be coach of Notre Dame, and let’s go out and win a bunch of football games, graduate our athletes, and enjoy every Saturday of football.

Thank you very much. (Applause).

Q&A

Q. Is this a Godsey thing with you?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: You know what’s amazing is I left my football team this morning. I met with them at ten o’clock, and I saw the one Godsey. It was only three years ago, Gary Godsey, I said, “You need to come to Georgia Tech. But sooner or later, I’ll run into you.” Well, he did today. A great family. We wish we had a lot more of them.

Q. What do you know at this stage regarding assistant coaches, how many will you bring from Georgia Tech? Is there a chance that any of the previous staff here at Notre Dame will be retained?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: What I have always done, I think you have dignity in coaching. I want to sit down with the staff that’s here currently and have an opportunity to meet them. But again, I won’t fill the staff until probably before Christmas, hopefully, so we are ready to move when we need to move.

But my job is to get the best people here to win football games. Also, not just football coaching, but understand what academics are, what athletes go through and what Notre Dame is about. I think that takes awhile, takes a special person. But I will interview all of the coaches here, sit down and visit with them, because I think that’s the way people should be treated in coaching.

Q. It says here in the quotes we were handled about you: “He’s brash, he will say things to your face, and George doesn’t beat around the bush,” and that was your own mother. So what’s your assessment of this program right now as you enter it?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I think this program is basically inches away from being where they need to be. There’s very little difference between winning and losing. It may be one play, it may be one call.

Again, before I state where the assessment of this program is, understand one thing: I’m here because I believe we can win and we can win big and make no guesses out of Saturday afternoons. I think that’s what my job is. And until I can sit down and evaluate talent and evaluate film, I’ll give you more of a correct answer after that.

But I’m here because I believe what the institution believes in and it’s going to be a great marriage. As I told the committee yesterday, you have to be in love with each other before you get married, you can’t do it after. So there’s a marriage there. And we’re going to get it to where we need to get it.

Q. For both you and Kevin, you both talked about you being a good fit at Notre Dame. What makes you a good fit? And Kevin, what attracted you, what makes him the fit?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: Well, if Kevin answers it first, then I can just copy his answer. (Laughter).

KEVIN WHITE: George, have you got a pencil? Write this down.

I think we were, as I said, we were looking for somebody that had a track record of success, somebody that I felt would fit this place. This is a very unique place. There are some challenges here, and there are some wonderful opportunities here. I think the experience that George had at Georgia Tech will serve him well in his preparation for his tenure at Notre Dame. He had a seven?year run at Georgia Tech, and Georgia Tech is one of the wonderful, one of the great institutions in our country and we know that restrictive curriculum, largely engineering and so forth.

I think George and his staff, and his players, most importantly, found a way to be successful in a pretty darned challenging environment, and I think there’s a lot of lessons that George learned at Georgia Tech that will serve him well here.

I guess that’s my response.

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I agree. (Laughter).

Q. A lot has been made in recent years about the tough schedule Notre Dame has and the academics that may cause Notre Dame not to get some athletes in. How big of a concern is that for you?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I haven’t seen the academics change at Notre Dame since I’ve known it, and I think basically you are in college to get a degree. It may be a little bit stricter than some of the schools, but that’s what makes you different and that’s the way I look at that.

I think as far as restricting the football, I think you’re going after the people that probably should be in college that need to be helping you win football games. But, again, we were pretty restrictive at Georgia Tech. I know the situation here, and I think it’s a very workable situation because it’s a win/win situation. You’re going to get a great degree at a great institution and have an opportunity to play on a great football team.

Schedule: I think you’re at Notre Dame, you need to play the best, and that’s the only way you end up being the best. I think right now, the schedule is made, and I know the dates and our players will know the dates. Believe me, we’ll show up. (Applause).

Q. It says here that you wish your father could be here for this. Can you talk about that, and also, talk about when your love for Notre Dame began?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: My family came from Ellis Island. I’m one of eight, obviously, and they are all policemen, lawyers, and my dad’s passed, but if there was any indecision on this job and he was living, there would be no indecision. It wasn’t even close as far as where they came from and what they did and what this school stood for.

You know, I am Irish?Catholic and I’m very, very proud of it. I don’t, basically, talk to anybody about what I am ?? I’m Irish, I’m Catholic, it’s a great combination. It’s a great combination at this school.

Q. Could you talk about recruiting, the players that have already been recruited by Notre Dame?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: There’s 12 commitments. I think there’s 20 or so to give out this year. Believe me, you win with good players. I don’t think there’s any miracles out there. I think you win with good players.

I have basically looked at the recruits. I will be in touch with them to make sure that they are holding their commitment, and then we need to get on the road and get players in here.

You know, good players win football games. I think good coaches can help win a couple of games off the sideline, but you have good players here and you need to have good players every year coming in if you’re going to be successful.

But I will evaluate the recruiting class and what our needs are as far as positions are concerned.

Q. If you can expand on that, have you chosen a recruiting coordinator yet and what direction are you going?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I’m pretty much my own recruiting coordinator. I know how to dial a phone. (Laughter).

I do talk to recruits quite often. It was funny today meeting the football team, and I knew a lot of them, and they thought I forgot. You never forget the ones you lose. It’s the one you get, you forget. But I remember names, faces, outstanding youngsters that got a little heavier, a little taller, and it’s good that we have that background.

But I have my own feeling about what you need to win in college football. No question, speed and range are critical, all right, in today’s day and age, as far as getting things done. Basically that would be the focus of our recruiting once we start looking at what our needs are.

Q. As you help these players transition from one system to another, what do you think the biggest challenge for them will be and what will you do to help make that transition?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I think the biggest transition when a coaching change happens: It’s not important what the coach knows, but it’s important what you can transmit to the players.

We have a system, but the system has got to fit the athletes. I think we’ve always been very flexible as far as what we want to run, but simple in execution. I think that’s the key is, you know, we don’t just run plays or schemes. You get good at fundamentals and that wins plays and wins in schemes.

Again, I will sit down with the players. I asked them to all stop by my office Wednesday. I’ll be there as late as I have to be. I want to see each and every one of them before they start finals and go home for Christmas. Schemes don’t win and plays don’t win. I think execution of basic fundamentals win and how good can we get at those.

Q. What will be the time?line for you, or for the fans who are watching Notre Dame football, to start expecting significant improvement?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: When does spring football start? (Applause).

You have a good football team here. Don’t ever ?? Notre Dame has always had good football teams. The ball has bounced the wrong way a couple of times. The players will determine how well you improve and how quick you improve. Coaches get them in the right direction. Players are the ones who need to understand the difference between being hungry and starving and they need to be starving. (Applause).

Q. Could you describe your coaching style to us? Largely defensive background, but with the year that the Notre Dame had last year offensively, could you describe how you plan to address that in relation to your coaching style?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: Well, I think my offensive philosophy is, you know, obviously, got to score points. I think however we can get them scored ?? and we’ve been very fortunate where I’ve been, we led the Conference in scoring, and I think you need to do it by where the lines are, throw or run it. That’s what’s important and get good at it.

My coaching philosophy: I think I’m very hard with little compassion ?? does that sound right? (Laughter) I think I’m hard, but fair. I expect a day’s work on the field. I don’t expect to have to talk about second effort. I think it should be incorporated in your daily work habits, and go out and have fun because it needs to be fun. Saturdays need to be fun. During the week, you need to work hard to get ready to have that fun. That’s how I look at it.

The last thing, get points on the boards. There are lots of ways to get it done. We’ve been fortunate to have some good players do that just as Notre Dame has good players right here, and we’ve just got to get that system going.

Q. Just curious about the whole process with taking this job. What was your initial reaction when you were contacted, and when did you make up your mind that this was something that you wanted to pursue?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: Well, I spoke with the athletic director and all of those questions, he has to answer.

You know, I was contacted Thursday night and the whole process was done Saturday night. Does that sound good? Write it down. (Laughter).

Q. As soon as you were contacted, was this something you wanted to do right away? When did you come to the realization that you wanted to make the move?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I think this ?? as I stated earlier, I think if you’re in coaching and you are looking at situations as far as coaching is concerned and I think anybody that’s been in coaching ?? this is my 34th year, I would say that the pinnacle of any college coaching is the head coach of Notre Dame. As I stated earlier, I consider it one of the two best jobs in America, and I meant that. And I’m a diehard Yankee fan.

Q. I read a transcript of an interview that you did preseason about how you approach a season, that you don’t approach it as a season as a whole, but each game is a season in and of itself. Do you think that will be effective, will that help you with the schedule you face here?

COACH GEORGE O’LEARY: I think so. I think that you play one game at a time and each game is a season. Once that game is over with, whether it’s successful or not, you need to move on. When you’re looking ahead or talking about two games ago is when you have problems with your squad. So I have 11 one?game seasons.

And I think it’s how you handle setbacks that are important. Not the setback, it’s how you handle it, because you don’t have a lot of time to sit around and see what’s going on. You have to get ready for the next opponent.

It’s worked for us and it’s going to work here because you don’t have time to sit back and look. You need to move ahead. That’s what we’ve done.

I appreciate it. If you get a chance to say hello, say hello and let’s go win some games.

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